Charges

A charge is anything placed on a field or ordinary. Loosely speaking the term can include the ordinaries and sub-ordinaries as well. The charge was originally a separate entity affixed to the shield, and for this reason it is often drawn as a raised, relief object. Typical charges are:

• geometric forms such as crosses, the saltire, the crescent, and the bezant

  [Richmond]

  For example Ermine a crescent or (Richmond) and Gules nine bezants or [sometimes 10 bezants, 4, 3, 2 and 1] (Zouche)

  [Zouche]

• stylised representations such as the maunch (a sleeve), the bouget (water-carrying skin) and the garb (a wheatsheaf)

  [Roos]

  For example Azure three water bougets or (Roos of Laxton) and Azure three garbs or (Comyn, Earl of Buchan)

  [Comyn]

• animals such as lions, deer and so on; also birds and fishes

  [Malbis]

  For example Argent a chevron between three hind’s heads erased gules (Malbis) and Vert an eagle displayed argent, armed or (Bailey)

  [Bailey]

• flowers, plants and trees, including stylised forms such as cinquefoils and fleur de lys

  [Collingridge]

  For example Argent three fleur-de-lys azure (Collingridge) and Gules a cinquefoil argent (or ermine) [usually blazoned ermine] (Beaumont, Earl of Leicester)

  [Beaumont]

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  © Gill Smith 1997, 1998